The Lombard Police Department will have extra patrols on the road on Halloween night, to help keep our community safe. These patrols will be paying special attention to pedestrian safety and will be actively seeking out impaired drivers. Residents are reminded to wear reflective items, cross in designated pedestrian cross walks, and to watch for vehicles.
Additionally, the Village of Lombard has received a few calls whether or not trick-or-treating will be changed to a later date, due to weather conditions. We understand that the forecast is unfortunately spooky and we too are disappointed by the forecast for cold temperatures and the possibility of snow. Despite our shared disappointment, the Village will not be changing trick-or-treating to a different day. The Village will NOT move trick-or-treating to Saturday. Recommended hours for trick-or-treating will remain on Halloween, October 31st, 3-7 p.m., for the following reasons:
- Trick-or-treating has traditionally taken place on Halloween and has occurred regardless of unfavorable weather conditions in years past. A trick-or-treat date change would not be expected by many. If trick-or-treating is moved to Saturday, not all people would receive this message. This means, there would likely be children out on both dates.
- The safety of residents is our highest priority. Drivers on Halloween night generally anticipate trick-or-treaters. Not all drivers on Saturday would be aware of the rescheduled trick-or-treating hours and may not anticipate children, creating an unnecessary risk.
- The Village cannot prohibit children from trick-or-treating on Halloween night. If the date was changed, it is highly likely that some children will still trick-or-treat on October 31st. We have heard from residents concerned that an alternate date will create additional time and candy burdens for homeowners.
- The forecast predicts similar cold weather and a 20% chance of rain on Saturday. Moving the date to Saturday would not guarantee a warmer or precipitation free trick-or-treating experience.
- The Village has publicly recommended trick-or-treating hours from 3-7 p.m., to encourage safety. However, there is no official policy or ordinance in place with designated or enforceable hours, beyond recommended guidance. Therefore, the Village does not have official regulatory control to enforce changes to the date on which Halloween is recognized through the cultural practice of trick-or-treating.
The Village’s top priority is resident safety. Ultimately, each resident must make the decision as to whether or not they would like to engage in outdoor activities in less than favorable weather conditions. As much as we may hope for seasonable weather and as much as we hate the disappointment of our little ghosts and goblins as much as you do, we must consider all of the possibilities when considering an attempt to adjust a well-established tradition.
If you choose to trick-or-treat on Halloween night, please consider the weather conditions and take extra precautions to dress appropriately for the weather, use flashlights, add reflective tape to costumes, limit exposure and watch carefully for vehicular traffic. Motorists should drive slow and watch for pedestrians.
We know that not everyone will agree on this, but we appreciate your support, and wish you all a happy and safe Halloween.